Portable inflatable/collapsible bath

ABSTRACT

The portable inflatable/collapsible bath has several unique design features: It is made of a flexible material with a portable detachable air pump and operates on 110VCA or battery power. It has a one-way air input valve and a quick-release style valve for deflation. Multiple drain ports around the entire periphery of the floor facilitate rapid draining through an external on/off drain valve which allows the water to be discharged into a suitable receptacle or attachment of a hose to direct the waste into available plumbing such as a bathtub, shower, sink or toilet. The attached reinforced eyelets on the backside allow the bath to be hung for drying. It also has detached inflatable headrests of various sizes, for different sized persons.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to devices utilized to batheincapacitated persons. Specifically, this device allows such persons tobe bathed without removal from their beds.

2. UNIQUE DESIGN FEATURES

[0002] The present invention contains several unique design features.The first, and most significant, is the included inflation device. Thisair pump is portable, detachable and will operate on both 110 andbattery power. Other features include a one-way air input valve, a drainwith an on/off valve, and a quick-release style deflation valve.Additional noteworthy features are multiple drainage ports around theentire periphery of the bath floor, detached inflatable headrests, ofvarious sizes for different sized persons, a supplied carrying case foreasy storage and transportation and attached reinforced eyelets forhanging the bath to facilitate drying.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention is related to the bathing of bed-riddenincapacitated persons, by providing a portable device that allows suchpersons to be bathed without removal from their bed. The uninflateddevice is placed on the bed with the patient rolled to one side. Thepatient is then rolled back to the other side, over the deflated bath.The remaining portion of the bath is spread out and the patient is thencentered in the bath on their back.

[0004] This compliant bath is self-supporting, by inflating with airusing a portable, compact air pump, which is supplied with each bath andprovides a dependable and speedy means of inflation. An optional batterypowered air pump is available for locations without electricity, or fortimes when electrical power is unavailable. A one-way valve on the inputattachment prevents any back flow, preventing air loss after the airpump is turned off. Detached inflatable headrests are included, in avariety of sizes. The suitable size is selected and inflated, using theair pump, and placed under the patient's head.

[0005] The patient is bathed accordingly by applying as much water asdesired and, upon completion, rinsing freely with the required amount ofwater, without wetting the bed or linens.

[0006] A valve on the drain allows the soiled water to be immediatelydischarged, in the open position, or collected within the bath duringbathing, in the closed position. The drain is designed for a hose to beattached to facilitate draining. This can be accomplished into availablebuilding plumbing (toilets, bathtubs, showers, sinks, etc.) or collectedinto pails or similar containers for transporting to suitable disposalsites.

[0007] After draining, a quick release valve allows the bath to bedeflated rapidly. The patient can then be dried, as the bath is removedin the reverse manner, and dressed. The bath can then be removed fromthe bed, cleaned/sanitized as needed, and hung to dry by use of theattached reinforced eyelets.

[0008] Storage can be accomplished, after drying, by folding or rollingthe bath into a compact form and placing into the furnished carryingcase, along with the other bath components/accessories.

DETAIL ILLUSTRATION OF BATH

[0009] The portable/inflatable bath is comprised of a pliable structure(1), (2), (3), (4) & (10), which, upon inflating with air, becomesself-supporting (views A-A & B-B). Inflation is accomplished using aportable electric air pump (5) powered by standard 110VAC or with anoptional battery powered unit (6). The air pump is connected to anairline (7) which, in turn, is connected to the bath, via the air inlet(8). The air inlet has an internal one-way valve, which will prevent thebackflow of the air already within the bath, when the pump is turned offor should the airline become disconnected at any time. Deflation isaccomplished by releasing the air outlet valve (9). The large opening ofthis outlet allows the air to be expelled rapidly.

[0010] The bath includes detached, inflatable head supports of differentsizes (11) and (12), for different sized individuals. The appropriatesize head support is selected, inflated to a desired pressure andsituated within the bath at a suitable location, based on theindividual's size. These head supports are also inflated using theportable air pump (5) or (6).

[0011] The bath also includes a built-in drain (13) with an integralon/off valve (14). The valve can be closed to permit the collection ofwater within the bath and then opened whenever draining is desired. Thisvalve can remain open, during bathing, to allow the water to drainimmediately. The bath has a series of outlet holes (detail D) whichallow the water to be removed. The bath is drained using a hose (15),which attaches directly to the drain valve and then inserted into anappropriate receptacle (sink, toilet, shower, etc.). Draining can alsobe accomplished using a portable receptacle (pail, bucket, pan, etc.)placed directly under the valve, to collect the wastewater, which canthen be transported to a suitable disposal site.

[0012] Drying is accomplished, after draining, by hanging the bath usingthe reinforced eyelets (view E-E) which allows the residual water to beexpelled.

1. What is clamed this portable inflatable/collapsible bath made of aflexible material provides portable aqua comfort to various people.